First 2010 Vancouver Olympic Gold Medal Awarded; Others to Come Today
Ammann, who took both the Normal and Large Hill Ski Jumping gold medals eight years ago in Salt Lake City, started off the competition in impressive fashion, posting a field-best 105 meter jump. He went on to post a hill-record 108-meter jump during his second attempt, and finished with a commanding total of 276.5 points to win the first gold medal of the Vancouver Olympic Games.
Poland's Adam Malysz took the normal hill ski jumping silver medal with a total of 269.5 points, while pre-competition favorite Austrian Gregor Schlierenzauer rallied from seventh place to earn the bronze with a second jump score of 140.0.
The three Americans who took part in the normal hill ski jumping event at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics failed to make the final 30-athlete round, which isn't surprising as Americans haven't historically done well in the competition. Nick Alexander and Peter Frenette tied for 41st place with the like-total of 106.5, while Anders Johnson finished his Olympic event in 49th with a score of 92.5.
The normal hill ski jumping event participants receive scores for both distance as well as style.
Five other Olympic gold medals are to be awarded today. The other events set to host medal rounds include Men's 5000 meter speed skating, Men's downhill Alpine skiing, Women's 7.5km Biathlon sprint and Men's 1500 meter short track.
Americans to watch include short track superstar Apolo Ohno, who will begin his quest to become the most decorated American male Winter Olympic athlete in history; 2005 Downhill world champion skiier Bode Miller; and 2008-09 World Cup title holder in moguls Hannah Kearney. Ohno is perhaps the United States' best chance to grab its first gold medal of the Vancouver Games, but don't count out Kearney to take a win of her own when she hits the moguls.
Edited: The Men's Downhill competition has been postponed until February 15, according to the NBC Olympic scheduling guide.
Sources
Ski Jumping Results, NBC Olympics
Ammann wins first gold medal of games, NBC Olympics
Shery Wight, 2010 Vancouver Olympic Preview for February 13: Apolo Ohno to Skate, Associated Content
Published by Sherry Wight - Featured Contributor in Arts & Entertainment
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